Book Review Excerpts

From The New York Times

"Mr. O'Harrow provides in these pages an authoritative and vivid account of the
emergence of a 'security-industrial
complex' and the far-reaching consequences for ordinary Americans, who must
cope not only with the uneasy sense of being watched (leading, defenders of
civil liberties have argued, to a stifling of debate and dissent) but also
with the very palpable dangers of having personal information (and in some
cases, inaccurate information) passed from one outfit to another."

From Mother Jones

"Since September 11, O'Harrow argues, patriotism and profit motive have
fortuitously converged to create a 'security-industrial complex' that seeks
to electronically monitor our every move. Like its Cold War-era
predecessor, this alarming construct is propelled by fear and weds the
private and public sectors in unsettling ways. The departments of Justice
and Homeland Security have replaced the Pentagon, while little-known
high-technology firms like Seisint, Acxiom, and ChoicePoint have assumed
the role once played by traditional weapons manufacturers.

"This secretive new alliance could, if left unchecked, irrevocably alter
our notions of freedom. It will make many Americans nervous, and a lucky
few rich, but whether it will actually thwart terrorism remains to be
seen."

From wired.com

"In a masterfully written book, O'Harrow carefully diagrams the complex,
post-9/11 intertwining of increased law enforcement powers, influential
lobbyists, massive and unregulated troves of information marketed by
private companies to government agencies, and government officials'
newfound attraction to powerful data-mining applications.
It's the story of how a nationwide obsession with preventing another
terrorist attack in the United States has drawn together companies that
used to make millions selling targeted lists to retailers, high-powered
former government officials turned lobbyists, cutting-edge
technologists and a national security apparatus hungry for new tools."